It will be a very special play-off that will launch the final phase of this 2022-2023 season of the Top 14 on Saturday. On the one hand because it will oppose Stade Français and Racing 92 in a derby very high in stakes. On the other hand because it will not be played at the time initially scheduled by the National Rugby League (LNR) and its broadcaster Canal +, in the evening at 21:05, as the second play-off between Lyon and Bordeaux-Bègles Sunday in the Rhône. The reason? A football match, scheduled at the same time a few meters away.
PSG, already sacred, hosts Saturday night (21h) Clermont for the final day of Ligue 1 at the Parc des Princes, an enclosure near the Jean-Bouin stadium where Gonzalo Quesada's men play. And for organizational and security reasons, the Paris police prefecture informed the NRL that it was not possible to play these two matches in parallel in this district of the capital, where the Roland-Garros tennis tournament is also played.
As Ligue 1 organizes its multiplex for this 38th day, it was not possible to postpone the match of Kylian Mbappé and his partners. An agreement has been reached between the authorities and the National Rugby League to play the Top 14 play-off at 14pm, the time deemed necessary to evacuate the public of Jean-Bouin before the arrival of the expected crowd at the Parc des Princes.
Canal+ has agreed to review its schedule and schedule this meeting in the early afternoon. The encrypted channel will still offer rugby in the evening in prime-time to its subscribers since another dam, this one to remain in the Top 14, between Grenoble and Perpignan in Isère, has been shifted since it was logically to be played at 17h the same day.
🗓🎟 Our
💥 ✅Parisians will receive Racing 92 for an electric Derby next Saturday at 14:00!
Jean Bouin will be full, take your seats ⚡️ quickly #SFPR92 | #BarragesTop14
— Stade Français Paris (@SFParisRugby) May 28, 2023
Stade Français and Racing 92 will face each other in the play-offs for the third time in their history. In 2015, the Parisians dominated the Racingmen (38-15) at home before being crowned two weeks later. Two years ago, Laurent Travers' men took their revenge in Nanterre (38-21).
